ABB drives recycling scheme achieves record figures

Some 22 collections of waste electronic drives, totalling 10 tonnes, have been made in the first six months of 2008, compared with only 30 collections for the whole of 2007. This shows that ABB customers are getting the recycling message and making use of ABB’s service, says Jon Clews. The 2008 collections total 10 tonnes of waste electronic drives made across the UK by the ABB Drives Alliance channel partner network.

Although variable speed drives are not covered by the WEEE Directive, the drives are recycled in accordance with the Environment Protection Act of 1990, which stipulates how different materials should be disposed. ABB offers the service as part of its ‘cradle to grave’ support for its drives customers. Bins for accepting old drives are placed at the sites of ABB Drives Alliance partners.

Alan Jones, a director of ABB Drives Alliance partner APDS, says: We have been recycling drives for five years and the bins are always filled quickly. Larger drives that won’t fit in the bin can also be taken and recycled, usually direct from the customer. The scheme works well and ABB’s recycling company collects the bins as soon as we tell them we have one to collect. We always mention to customers that we run the recycling scheme and they are very keen to use it to dispose of their electronic waste.

Once the drive has been removed for recycling, ABB issues a certificate that can be used for environmental audits by end users complying with ISO 14001.